Author: I-70 Scout

Lakewood, CO- As the winter storm makes its way through Colorado this week, it’s vital to be aware of heating sources in your home that could start a fire. From a space heater and candles to your oven and even your Christmas tree, those are all things that could start a fire if you’re not careful.

The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) urges those that live, work, and play in Colorado to keep safety at the forefront of their minds. “With a lot of people staying in their homes because of the extreme conditions, being fire cautious is essential,” said DFPC Director Mike Morgan. “Following a few simple tips will ensure a happy and fire-safe holiday season.”

Winter Fire Safety Tips:

• Working smoke alarms are especially important during a loss of power when people may use alternate forms of heating equipment, portable generators and candles.
• Never use candles for emergency lighting. Many things in your home can catch fire if they are too close to a candle’s flame.
• Use flashlights for emergency lighting and stock up on batteries.
• Have a qualified repair company or licensed electrician inspect water-damaged appliances and home wiring after a flood.
• Portable generators are useful during storms, but if not used safely, they can cause injury and death. Keep portable generators outside, away from windows, and as far away as possible from your home.
• Install and test carbon monoxide alarms at least once a month.
• Do not use the following devices indoors as supplemental heat sources, due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning: propane grills, propane heaters, charcoal grills, or similar types of devices.

Which US state is home to America’s biggest bluffers?

• Through the creation of an index, Gambling.com reveals the most dishonest states in the US.
• The people of Wyoming came out as America’s biggest bluffers, with an index score of 80.5 out of 100.
• California ranked 50^th and was named America’s most honest state, with a score of 21.2 out of 100.

Let’s face it, we all know someone who’s a bit of a bluffer – whether it’s a work colleague, a best friend or a family member. Whoever it is, they might simply sugar-coat the truth, or maybe they actively tell serious untruths?

Well, Gambling.com wanted to find out if people’s location factors into telling more white lies. By researching the most dishonest states in America using Google search data on ‘tips on lying’, ‘how to bluff’, ‘Ashley Madison’, as well as divorce rates and Integrity Scores, Gambling.com created an index ranking the most dishonest states in America, finding some interesting stats and correlations.

So, which are the most dishonest states?

Below is a list of all of the US states, in order of index score:

*(Average monthly search volume per 100,000 of the population)

Wyoming is officially the most dishonest US state, taking the top spot on Gambling.com’s index. This state had the highest number of searches for ‘How to bluff’ (300 searches per 100,000 residents) and the highest index score, at a whopping 80.5 out of 100! So, maybe think twice about who you believe in this spot…

• Vermont ranks second (75.3)
• New England ranks third (64).

The most honest state is California

It seems sunny California is the place to find the most honest US residents, having the second-highest integrity score (73) as well as the fifth-lowest divorce rate (9.2%) in America!

To find out more about this research, head over to https://www.gambling.com/us/news/where-can-you-find-america-s-biggest-bluffers-3702500.

Aquatic Biologist Jon E. holds a male kokanee salmon during spawning operations at Wolford Reservoir.

Kremmling, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife is celebrating its third most successful year of kokanee salmon spawning at Wolford Reservoir, near Kremmling.

On Oct. 17, Northwest Region aquatic biologists, Glenwood Springs Hatchery staff, and volunteers headed out on a floating spawn barge kicking off the kokanee salmon spawn at Wolford Reservoir. The first of many trips the team would take over the next five weeks, braving freezing temperatures for several hours to spawn kokanee salmon. Eagerly anticipating what was waiting for them in the trap set up in one of the coves with every launch.

“We weren’t sure what this year’s egg take would look like at Wolford,” said CPW aquatic biologist Jon Ewert. “By day eight we had only collected around 250,000 eggs. However, things changed overnight and by day 10 we saw a 67% increase in the number of ripe females in the trap, almost doubling the number of eggs collected.”

This upward trend in the number of ripe females would continue. On Oct. 31, the spawning team would see their biggest day yet, collecting over 302,500 eggs. Just two days later, the team would celebrate one million eggs collected at Wolford. Unfortunately, that celebration would be cut short. For the first time in eleven years, the team would shut down that day’s spawn early due to strong gusty winds creating dangerous conditions.

“This is rare — actually the first time I can recall having to shut down early due to dangerous water conditions,” said Ewart.

When the team resumed spawning the following Monday, Jon’s feeling that they still had not seen the peak was confirmed, and the hope of collecting 2 million eggs looked more like a reality. Four days later, that hope turned into reality, with the announcement the team had collected 2 million eggs less than a month into the spawning operation. This is the same number of kokanee salmon eggs collected in 2020 at Wolford.

Two days later, they would celebrate another milestone by collecting 2.5 million eggs. Something CPW aquatic biologists didn’t think would happen this year at Wolford.

“After the team completed spawning on Nov. 9, I was sure we’d start to see the spawn number decrease,” said Ewert. “When spawning was complete on the 11th, I realized I might be wrong. With a late season run of males, which does happen, we were able to hit 2.5 million eggs the following week.”

When all was said and done on Nov. 21, approximately 2.7 million eggs were collected from 4,195 ripe females.

“This effort would not be possible without our dedicated staff and volunteers,” said Ewert. “From setting up nets to spending long hours in freezing temps to spawn, plus all the other tasks that they help with, we couldn’t do this without them. They’re the reason CPW continues to have successful spawns leading to the continuation of  this species in Colorado.”

Once spawned the eggs are carefully rinsed and any debris or damaged egg in the batch are removed. They are then taken back to Glenwood Springs State Fish Hatchery where they are incubated, hatched, and raised to 1-2 inches. Once fish reach a survivable size, on average about six months later, the young fish are stocked in 26 lakes around the state, including Wolford.

In addition to egg collection, the spawned kokanee are given away to ensure the meat is not wasted. This year CPW gave away 6,229 kokanee salmon collected from Wolford Reservoir to individuals and local foodbanks.

“The process in which they collect the eggs is pretty impressive,” said Northwest Region PIO Rachael Gonzales. “From how they collect kokanee in the trap for spawning to volunteers carefully sifting through thousands of eggs with a plastic spoon, the process runs smoothly. What makes it even more impressive is it’s all being done right there on the lake that’s not always calm, in bitterly cold temperatures, on a barge they’ve turned into a floating  spawn barge.”

2022 marked the eleventh year CPW has run the spawn operation at Wolford and the third-best egg collection they’ve had at the reservoir. The number one year was back in 2019, with 4.6 million eggs collected. The total number of eggs taken from Wolford over those eleven years is just over 22 million, for an average of 2.0 million per year.

“That’s all from stocking just 120,000 fish annually, an excellent return rate,” said Ewert.

Kokanee spawning in the Northwest Region also occurs in the section of the Colorado River between Lake Granby and Shadow Mountain Lake, near Granby. Due to a decline in the kokanee population in  Lake Granby only 13o,ooo eggs were collected this year.

Statewide, CPW collected an estimated 8.5 million kokanee salmon eggs from five locations this season. Wolford Reservoir led the state with the most eggs collected from a single body of water with 2.7 million eggs. Lake Nighthorse in the Southwest came in second with 2.3 million eggs collected.

Kokanee is the landlocked version of the sockeye salmon. Kokanee salmon were first introduced into Colorado waters in 1951 and are currently stocked in 26 lakes and reservoirs, including Wolford. Similar to the sockeye salmon, mature fish will swim upstream where they will naturally die after spawning.  To learn more about kokanee salmon visit our website.